Students at Chamberlain Elementary School and their families started their day off on the right foot by walking to school en masse.

Chamberlain students celebrated International Walk to School Day on Friday, walking nearly a mile to school from the Taunton West Little League Complex.

It was the second year in a row that the school held the event. About 200 children, from kindergarten through fourth-grade, participated in the event along with their families and teachers.

“We’re trying to get people out and get the kids active, giving them another avenue for that,” said Jeff Trucchi, a physical education teacher at Chamberlain, who helped organize the event. “And it’s a nice way to get the parents involved.”

The impetus for the international event is to promote long-term walking programs, new sidewalks and pathways, law enforcement against unsafe driving behaviors and to encourage the community to embrace walking to school.

“It’s a couple things, first to continue to encourage wellness and family activities,” said Chamberlain Principal Paul Moccia. “There is an economics to it. A lot of our children are driven to school or take a bus to school. We have sidewalks that children really aren’t able to walk on to school. This is a celebration of trying to reduce the traffic and improve our ecology. Let’s walk to school today and celebrate those issues.”

Students who didn’t participate were outside the school building, cheering on the walkers as they approached the building. Some of the students chanted along the walk, singing out, “I’m ready, I’m ready to walk to school.”

A national Walk to School Day organized by the Partnership for a Walkable America was first held in 1997, and it was originally called “Walk Our Children to School Day.” The event became international in 2000 when the United Kingdom and Canada joined together for the first International Walk to School Day.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Caroline Dunham, the grandmother of one of the students. “It was my first day off from work, and I wanted to go for the walk. I couldn’t wait to come. It’s a good crowd. The kids are excited about it.”

Dunham’s daughter, Tammy Dunham, agreed.

“i like that they offer this kind of stuff,” Tammy Dunham. “I like that they get everyone out and about and teach them healthy habits.”

Heidi Ceriani, whose son is in the first grade, said the event was “great” and that she was glad it got the parents together.

“The kids get out and get some fresh air and get some exercise before they get to school,” Ceriani said. “It’s a good school event to get the parents together.”

While International Walk to School Day was scheduled for Wednesday, the event was postponed until Friday because of the weather.

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Trucchi, the phys-ed teacher, said Chamberlain is also planning to observe “National Bike to School Day” in the spring once the weather gets warmer. The first-ever National Bike to School Day will be celebrated across the U.S. in May 2012.

International Walk to School Day, along with the Bike to School Day, is promoted in the United States at www.walkbiketoschool.org. Information about what schools in other countries are doing to observe International Walk to School Month, which takes place throughout October, can be found at www.iwalktoschool.org.